MARRAKECH: Civil society vital to drive momentum on Paris Agreement targets, say ‘Climate Champions’

Nov 09, 2016, at 01:38 pm

New York, Nov 9 (Just Earth News): Beyond the work of governments, other stakeholders such as businesses, cities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have a crucial role to play in implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change, ‘Climate Champions’ Laurence Tubiana and Hakima El Haité said on Tuesday in Marrakech, where the United Nations conference known as ‘COP 22’ is under way.

Jens Stoltenberg to meet Bosnian delegate

Nov 08, 2016, at 08:59 pm

Brussels, Nov 8 (IBNS): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović, at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday.

Samsung offices raided by South Korean prosecutors

Nov 08, 2016, at 06:51 pm

Seoul, Nov 8 (IBNS): South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday raided several Samsung offices in the country, a BBC report said.

INTERVIEW: Architecture around Somalia’s electoral process is finitely more robust than in 2012 – UN envoy

Nov 08, 2016, at 02:12 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is mandated with many tasks in the east African nation as it continues to make significant strides in its peace process after two decades of lawlessness and conflict.

South Sudan will face escalating food crisis in 2017, UN agriculture agency warns

Nov 08, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): As the conflict in South Sudan grinds on, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Monday that 31 per cent of the country’s population, or 3.7 million people, are facing a severe food security risk, despite the end of the lean food season and start of harvests – a major increase from the one million who were in a similar situation at this time last year.

Nearly one billion travel abroad in first nine months of 2016 – UN agency

Nov 08, 2016, at 02:09 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): Recording an almost four per cent increase over the same period last year, the first nine months of 2016 witnessed 956 million international tourists travelling to different parts of the world, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said on Monday.

Guy Ryder re-elected for a second term as head of UN labour agency

Nov 08, 2016, at 02:08 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Monday re-elected Guy Ryder, of the United Kingdom, as ILO Director-General for a second five year-term to start on 1 October 2017.

Over-generalized approach could expose peace operations to greater risk, warns UN deputy chief

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:51 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): Amid increased attacks from violent extremist and terrorist groups, the United Nations peace operations must be better prepared to face such asymmetric threats by ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel and adapting to varying situations on the ground, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Security Council on Monday.

UN released two million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2015 latest ‘Greening the Blue’ report shows

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:50 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): In the latest edition of the United Nations report on the organization’s greenhouse gas emissions, the world body announced that it emitted two million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent in 2015 and that a total of 28 UN system entities took systematic approaches to improve their environmental performance, all part of its commitment to become climate neutral by 2020.

Future of food security depends on irrigation methods that adapt to climate change – UN agency

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:48 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that in order to adapt agriculture to a changing climate, new approaches to irrigation will need to be developed and implemented worldwide.

New UN survey reveals extensive damage to health system in war-torn Yemen

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:47 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): There are critical shortages in medical doctors in over 40 per cent of all Yemeni districts, with more than half of all health facilities closed or partially functioning as the conflict continues, a new World Health Organization (WHO) survey has revealed.

UNICEF renews call for protection of children after kindergarten hit in deadly Damascus attack

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:47 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that a kindergarten in Harasta, Rural Damascus, was reportedly hit in an attack yesterday, killing at least four children and injuring many others.

Prospect of solution ‘within reach,’ Ban says, as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders open talk

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:46 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered his “full support” to the talks between the Greek Cypriot leader and the Turkish Cypriot leader, concentrated on the chapter of territory, as well as other outstanding issues interdependently, kicked off on Monday in Switzerland.

MARRAKECH: ‘The eyes of the world are upon us,’ chair of UN conference says as new round of climate talks opens

Nov 08, 2016, at 01:44 pm

New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as ‘COP 22,’ opened on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco, just days after the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement which has now been ratified by 100 countries.

Iraq: As anti-ISIL operation intensifies, civilians increasingly at risk, UN official warns

Nov 08, 2016, at 04:13 am

New York, Nov 7 (Just Earth News): Amid the intensification of the military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) in northern Iraq and its impact on civilians, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in the country has raised alarm their safety and called on all sides to ensure that they are protected.

Mali: Ban strongly condemns attack that kills two civilians and one peacekeeper

Nov 08, 2016, at 04:09 am

New York, Nov 7 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the deadly attack yesterday in northern Mali that claimed the life of two Malian civilians and killing one peacekeeper from Togo while injuring seven others.

Guy Ryder re-elected as ILO Director-General for a second term

Nov 08, 2016, at 02:04 am

Geneva, Nov 7 (IBNS): The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) has re-elected Guy Ryder as Director-General for a second five year-term to start in October 2017.

Australia: Burglar shot with bow and arrow

Nov 08, 2016, at 12:32 am

Sydney, Nov 7 (IBNS): An angry person shot a burglar, who attempted to steal his car, with a bow and arrow,media reports said.

MARRAKECH: UN climate conference to continue momentum after Paris Agreement comes into force

Nov 07, 2016, at 12:47 pm

New York, Nov 7 (Just Earth News): Three days after the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement, the Marrakesh Conference, which begins Monday, 7 November, in Morocco, will give United Nations Member States and the world the opportunity to maintain momentum on climate action and continue strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change.

On International Day, UN cites 'duty of care towards the environment' in peacetime and during conflict

Nov 07, 2016, at 12:46 pm

New York, Nov 7 (Just Earth News): To achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of peace, prosperity and dignity for all on a healthy planet, it is essential to recognize the shared duty of care towards the environment in peacetime and during war, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday.

Colombia: UN Mission, Government and FARC-EP to start joint ceasefire monitoring and verification

Nov 07, 2016, at 12:43 pm

New York, Nov 7 (Just Earth News): The tripartite Mechanism coordinated by the UN Mission in Colombia, with the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP), will begin to monitor and verify the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities tomorrow, Monday, 7 November.

Two detained in Istanbul airport

Nov 06, 2016, at 09:09 pm

Istanbul, Nov 6 (IBNS): Triggering panic at the Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, two people in motorcycle refused to stop at a checkpoint, making the police to fire shots in the air, media reports said.

UN chief highlights importance of preparedness to reduce tsunami risks

Nov 06, 2016, at 04:36 am

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): In his message marking the first World Tsunami Awareness Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of reducing current and future levels of risk, particularly through strengthening preparedness.

INTERVIEW: ‘Education has power to save lives,’ survivors say, ahead of first Tsunami Awareness Day

Nov 05, 2016, at 01:36 pm

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): Ahead of the inaugural World Tsunami Awareness Day on 5 November, two survivors of the most devastating tsunami in recent history – a Czech supermodel and a member of the Spanish family featured in the film The Impossible (2012) – have joined the United Nations’ commemoration of the Day.

One year on, UN experts urge Brazil to urgently boost efforts to address impacts of dam collapse

Nov 05, 2016, at 01:34 pm

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): Voicing concern over the many pressing human rights impacts on some six million people since the worst mine disaster occurred in Brazil one year ago, a group of United Nations human rights experts on Friday issued a strong call on the Government to immediately redouble efforts to solve health problems and speed up the resettlement process of those affected.

‘Climate action starts in the kitchen,’ says UN, launching #Recipe4Change campaign

Nov 05, 2016, at 01:33 pm

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): With the Paris Agreement on climate change entering into force on Friday, famed chefs Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca are joining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund) to tackle climate change from a different perspective: sustainable cooking.

One month after Hurricane Matthew, needs in Haiti remain ‘vast,’ UN reports

Nov 05, 2016, at 01:32 pm

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): As Haiti struggles to recover from the massive destruction wrought by Hurricane Matthew, which pummelled the tiny island one month ago on Friday, the United Nations warned that while its seems as if “the world has moved on,” Haiti’s needs are vast, exemplified by the nearly 600,000 children being stalked by disease, hunger and malnutrition and in need of assistance.

Some 3,500 people fleeing South Sudan each day due to ongoing conflict – UN refugee agenc

Nov 05, 2016, at 01:31 pm

New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has led to immense suffering and displacement, with an average of 3,500 people fleeing the country each day to neighbouring countries, prompting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), national authorities, and other humanitarian actors to race to create safe and humane conditions for arrivals – 90 per cent of whom are women and children.

ISIL moving ‘trucks full of abducted civilians’ to Mosul as shields against airstrikes – UN warns

Nov 05, 2016, at 04:45 am

New York, Nov 4 (Just Earth News): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday warned that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) fighters have taken some 1,600 civilians to Mosul city in an attempt to shield themselves from airstrikes, and that nearly 400 women from Kurdish, Yezidi or Shi’a Muslim communities in Tal Afar are now being held captive.

On historic day for climate action, Ban urges sustained momentum for better, safer future

Nov 05, 2016, at 04:44 am

New York, Nov 4 (Just Earth News): As the Paris Agreement on climate change enters into force, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the same determination going forward to implement the Agreement as well as to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.